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Tag: instabooks

It’s the end of April, and that means a new Blog of the month! I skipped last month, because I hadn’t found any new blogs that I liked. But this month I’ve been reading Twin Reads, and I’ve really enjoyed their posts.

Twin Reads is ran by twin sisters Meg and Leah Bruce, and they post YA fiction reviews, hauls, and book tags. They currently attend Belmont University in Nashville, TN, so we’re basically neighbors. (Photo Source: Twin Reads)

I’ve been following them for a while, but they hadn’t been posting very much. But this month they have been posting some great content. Recently they posted a list of new YA summer releases, but one of my favorite post of the month was their April Book Haul. It’s something about a good haul that I just love (I’m a bookaholic).

Seeing other book bloggers being consistent and producing great content for their readers always makes me want to work harder. I can’t wait to read more from Meg and Leah in the future. I’ll have their Instagram link down below, and check out their blog for some great reviews.

The whole cast was so diverse, and representative of different lifestyles. I was amazed that there was more than one black character and none of them were sidekicks to anyone.

2.The Actors

The whole cast did a phenomenal job. They acted so well that while I was watching the show, I genuinely hated them. But then I had to realize that there just actors, but their characters were the worst. No joke.

3. Nice Pacing

There were only 13 episodes (for the 13 tapes), and they were all paced well. None of the episodes seemed rushed or too slow, but they were quite long, at an hour an episode them it gave them long enough to go into detail during each tape.

4. Drama. Drama. Drama.

My jaw was on the floor during every. single. episode. I never read the book, so I had no idea what was going to happen. But there was something new at every turn, when I thought it couldn’t get worse. It always did.

5. Character Development

Usually characters go from bad to good, but not in 13 Reasons Why. But the characters just got worse and worse, except Clay and Tony. Every time a new character was introduced I looked at them with a side-eye because I just knew they were going to be the worst.

6. Left Me With Questions

The last episode left me wanting with so many questions. What happens next? Will there be justice for Hannah? How are they going to go on now that the tapes are done? When is season 2 coming out?

7. It Made Me Think

It made me think about how I treat people, and what I do when I see others being mistreated. It made me want to pay more attention to the people around me, my friends, my family, my classmates. I never want them to feel so alone, that they have to make a drastic decision like suicide. This show really makes you think about others.

8. It Showed Me Something

It showed me that Film/TV adaptations can actually be like the book. It showed me that when the right producers and writers and directors come together, they can do a book justice. I had given up hope on film/tv adaptations, because they’re never good enough for me. But 13 Reasons Why was phenomenal, and I’m excited to see what comes next for the series.

9. It Made Me Appreciate My Friends and Family

This show made me appreciate my friends and family so much more. I’m glad I have friends and family that love me and support me, and that’s always there for me when I need someone to talk to. Because there are people that aren’t so lucky.

10. Great Writing

Whoever wrote the script for this series did a great job, I have an immense respect for anyone who can keep the integrity of the original work.

11. Representation

I love that they included the LGBTQIA community into the high school narrative, because so many TV shows and movies try to count them out. But in reality there are gay people in high schools.

12. It’s Amazing

This show is amazing, and I would recommend it to everyone. It’s well-written, has great actors, and an amazing plot. It deserves all the great feedback it’s getting plus some.

13. And Last but Not Least….It’s Important

This topic is so important especially when there is a new story every day about kids killing themselves because of bullying. Girls and boys get raped everyday and get no justice. Kids are bullied and get no justice. These things happen and people turn a blind eye to it, because society is too uncomfortable to talk about it. But this show is starting the conversation, and hopefully this influences others to join the conversation. So we can get justice for the people who need it.

Synopsis: “Feminist” is not a four-letter word, but Alida Nugent resisted it for a long time. She feared the “scarlet F” being thrust upon her for refusing to laugh at misogynistic jokes at parties; she withered under the judgmental gaze of store clerks when buying Plan B, and she swore that she was “not like other girls.” But eventually, like so many of us, she discovered that feminism is an empowering identity to take on. It’s okay to criticize beauty standards but still love dark lipstick, investing in female friendships is the most rewarding thing ever, and no one should feel pressured to eat an “unseasoned chicken breast the size of a deck of playing cards” as every sad dinner for the rest of eternity. With sincerity, intelligence, and wit, Nugent invites readers in to her most private moments of personal growth. From struggling with an eating disorder for most of her teen years to embracing all aspects of her biracial identity, she tackles tough topics with honest vulnerability. Smartly-written, unapologetic, and laugh-out-loud funny, You Don’t Have to Like Me is perfect for readers of Roxane Gay, Rebecca Skolnit, and Sloane Crosley. (Source: Barnes & Noble)

I was only two pages into, You Don’t Have To Like Me, and I already knew I was going to love this book.

Alida Nugent writes a group of smart, funny essays about growing up and her journey to find feminism. You Don’t Have to Like me spoke on a variety of women’s issues such as safety, the pressures of dieting, sex education, and feminism as a whole.

I wish I would I would have had this book in high school when I thought feminist were some radical group that went around burning bras and yelling at men for existing. Nugent’s book broke feminism down in a way that was easy to understand, and proves that anyone can be a feminist. You don’t have to hate men to be a feminist, you don’t have to hate Kim Kardashian to be a feminist, you don’t have to get an abortion to be a feminist, you can shave your entire body and still be a feminist. All you have to do is believe that women and men should be treated equally, and let women make their own decisions about their bodies and their lives.

It’s important to have books like this, because there are still so many people that are confused on what feminism is or are too scared to admit that they are a feminist because of the backlash they may receive. Being a feminist isn’t a bad thing, it’s a great thing. Wanting women to feel safe, and confident, and make equal pay, is a great thing.

I want to give a copy of this book to every person that I come in contact with that rolls their eyes when feminism or Women’s Marches are brought up. It’s a light entertaining read, and I highly recommend it. I’m excited to check out Alida Nugent’s first book Don’t Worry, It Gets Worse.

My next review will be Phoebe Robinson’s, You Can’t Touch My Hair, and after that I will be back to reading fiction for a little while.

For the past month, I’ve been searching for some new blogs to read and follow. So one night I was scrolling through my recommended on twitter when I found Twirling Pages. My first thought was, “Wow, this girl seems pretty cool,” and I then I went to her Instagram, and I loved it. Alexandra, a.k.a Twirling Pages, pictures are so cute, and she makes me want to take better photos (managing a bookstagram is really hard). But once I had effectively gone through her social medias, I checked out her blog.

First thing, I want to mention is how great her layout is, it’s really nice to look at and very well organized. I want to know how she does it. She posts Bookish things, such as reviews, discussions, etc., but she also does lifestyle posts. I really enjoy her bullet journaling videos.

Speaking of videos, I don’t think I mentioned that she also has a YouTube channel. Where she post favorites, hauls, and bullet journaling videos. Her videos are great for binge watching, but I do find myself wanting to buy all of the books that she talks about.

I highly recommend Twirling Pages, not only because Alexandra post great content, but she has an awesome personality and her videos are very entertaining. Make sure to follow her on Instagram and Twitter, her username is Twirling Pages on both.

Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram and Twitter as well, I am jayrreads on both.

Synopsis: Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.

It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do.

But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy.

There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.Source: Sabaa Tahir

I love, love, loved this book. It’s been a minute since I’ve read a fantasy novel, I’m not even sure the name of the last fantasy book I read. But I couldn’t have picked a better book to jump back into the genre with.

Sabaa Tahir gave me everything I needed with An Ember In The Ashes.

It was action packed, touching, and it had just the right amount of romance. There was something going on from beginning to end. I was on the edge of my seat from the beginning. I didn’t want to put this book down, I couldn’t wait to see what was next.

I didn’t know how I was going to feel about the different point-of-views, but I found myself enjoying it. As far as characters go, I did not like Laia at first. I thought she was whiny and weak and annoying, but she grew on me. Throughout the book she got strong and she become more sure of herself, and I started to warm up to her.

Elias…ugh, I have such a soft spot for him. He grew so much throughout the book. I found him to be relatable, we’ve all had that moment where we had to make the decision to go against the things we were taught in order the person the we want be.

I loved this book from beginning to end, and I can’t wait until I can start A Torch In The Night. I want to thank the girl at Barnes & Noble who reccomended this series to me, she has no idea how much she has blessed my life.

Like most I love listening to music while I read. I like to listen to soft music that will just fade into the background, while I’m getting into a story. Music really helps set the tone of a story for me. Sometimes I’ll even go as far as making books their own special playlist, kind of like their own soundtrack. But when I don’t feel like putting in the extra effort, I stick with the songs that are listed below.